Dominic Casciani
Home Affairs Correspondent

There have been eight justice secretaries since the Conservatives came to power in 2010 - and Robert Buckland’s two years, one month and 22 days makes him the third longest holder of a post that the entire legal establishment regards as having being treated as an after-thought.

Buckland, a respected lawyer and former judge, leaves office with some 58,000 serious criminal cases waiting to come to a crown court.

That’s 4,000 more cases than in January, when official watchdogs warned that the backlog was already of grave concern.

The upshot is that some victims will be waiting four years for justice.

The incoming Justice Secretary Dominic Raab may not have actually been appointed to deal with this problem - but to take on an ideological challenge.

Raab has some credentials for speaking up on some human rights legal issues, yet he is also one of the most vocal critics of the Human Rights Act - one of the cornerstones of the modern British constitution.

He’s long called for it to be replaced or repealed - and the government’s long-promised review of human rights law is now in his hands. We’ll soon find out where Raab ultimately stands on one of the most important but misunderstood legal issues of our times.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has also gone into Downing Street.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has become the latest cabinet minister this afternoon to enter No 10 Downing Street.

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg reports that he had a call scheduled this afternoon with leaders in the UK's devolved administrations - something he does regularly in his current role.

But this afternoon's call has been pulled, she says, suggesting he could be on the move.

The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg confirms Priti Patel will remain as home secretary.

Image source, Getty Images

Fresh from his demotion to justice secretary and deputy PM, former Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab put on a broad smile as he left No 10 a few seconds ago.

He did not reply to reporters in the street who asked him if he is happy with his new job.

But Downing Street sent out an email which confirms his new lists of roles.

Image source, No 10

Amanda Milling has been sacked as Conservative Party co-chairman, she appears to confirm on Twitter, external.

She adds that it has been a "privilege and an honour" to serve in the role.

"I will continue working to deliver on our plans to level up the UK," she adds.

Image source, Reuters

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has now entered No 10.

How Williamson was put in the firing linepublished at 15:34 British Summer Time 15 September 2021

15:34 BST 15 September 2021

Branwen Jeffreys
Education Editor

Image source, PA Media

Gavin Williamson found himself in the hot seat the year schools closed their classrooms and moved to on-and-off remote learning.

It put him in the firing line for criticism from overstretched and exasperated headteachers and parents as government policy led to sudden changes in direction.

As schools in England geared up to support the poorest families through hard times, they faced delays - first with food vouchers, then with devices.

Confusing Marcus Rashford with another black sportsman added to the perception of a gaffe-prone education secretary. But it was the days before and after A-level results of 2020 in England when chaos peaked.

The education secretary defended the system, before a massive U-turn that felt inevitable.

Williamson has said he is most proud of his contribution to giving skills a higher profile.

The cost of implementing an eye-catching promise of a lifelong learning loan will be in his successor's in-tray, as will looming decisions about future university funding.

For a government committed to levelling up, the long-term impact of the pandemic on the poorest children’s education is the other big challenge.

The £3bn promised for catching up fell so far short that the government’s own adviser resigned earlier this year.

Image source, Downing Street

No 10 has confirmed that Robert Buckland, Robert Jenrick and Gavin Williamson have now left government.

A spokesperson said Robert Buckland had made "a huge contribution to government as justice secretary and lord chancellor, including making our streets safer through significant reforms to sentencing and tackling re-offending.

"Robert Jenrick has led crucial work over the last two years, most importantly driving reforms to build more houses so home ownership becomes a reality for many more people.

"Gavin Williamson has played a key role in transforming the skills agenda as we create a high wage and high skilled economy, providing a lifetime skills guarantee for millions across the country."

We've been getting reaction to the news Gavin Williamson is out of his role as education secretary.

Geoff Barton, Association of School and College Leaders general secretary, points out the cabinet was appointed before the pandemic - and that Williamson "found himself embroiled in all kinds of issues".

Williamson never had the chance to demonstrate much in the way of education reform, he says, like an education secretary would usually have the chance to do.

He had to "make quick decisions", says Barton, but there was a delay in getting laptops to schools for home learning, the "free school meals fiasco and the exams fiasco".

As education secretary, Williamson was "someone a bit too bullish about things" who assumed his department "knew better than those of us running schools and colleges", says the union leader.

Barton says he wants to see details of the recovery plan, especially where it relates to young people and the crucial issue of next year's exams.

He also wants priority given to early years education and further education.

Dominic Raab has been confirmed as justice secretary, Lord Chancellor and deputy prime minister.

Image source, Reuters

Not official yet, but our political editor Laura Kuenssberg is hearing more murmurings.

She says Amanda Milling is expected to lose her job as the co-chair of the Conservative Party.

But no news over who will replace her.

We will let you know as soon as we hear more.

Boris Johnson is now back in Downing Street, suggesting any tough conversations about sackings are over.

But now it is all about the hires... and of course, whether the MPs want the jobs they are offered.

The first to be caught on camera walking up to No 10 is Dominic Raab - currently the foreign secretary.

But with reports he has already been in the PM's parliamentary office - where the sackings took place - will this be a straight rehire or will he be put into a new post?

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has just entered No 10 Downing Street by the front door.

Helen Catt
Political correspondent

When a prime minister reshuffles their cabinet like this, they usually carry out the nasty part - the sackings - over at their office in the Commons.

That's why there was all the speculation about those who had been going in to see Boris Johnson this morning.

But once the PM goes back to Downing Street, that's when they start the process of re-appointments.

We are expecting to see a number of MPs walking up the famous street as the afternoon progresses to find out what job they are being offered.

And we will find out too which current ministers are staying in their roles.

Image source, Reuters

Labour has put out a statement on the demise of Gavin Williamson - and the party hasn't minced its words.

Their shadow education secretary, Kate Green, says he "failed children and young people, their parents and our hard working education staff throughout one of the most testing periods in our history."

She adds: "Two years of exams chaos and staff abandoned, unsupported and demoralised. That is Gavin Williamson's legacy."

But Green puts the blame squarely at Boris Johnson's door.

"The prime minister has allowed this to happen, keeping a failing education secretary in post for months and refusing to fight for children's futures," she says.

We think it is safe to say there is no love lost between these two.

PM will have to choose someone worthy of housing challengepublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 15 September 2021

14:48 BST 15 September 2021

Alex Forsyth
Political correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Robert Jenrick’s departure as housing secretary won’t be the biggest move of the day - he was by no means the biggest personality in cabinet.

But his department did play a key role in the PM’s pledge to level up the country, one of the central planks of this government's agenda, so it will be interesting to see who the PM brings in.

It will have to be someone he deems worthy of the challenge.

Where did it go wrong for Gavin Williamson?published at 14:45 British Summer Time 15 September 2021

14:45 BST 15 September 2021

Sean Coughlan
BBC News, education correspondent

Image source, EPA

Gavin Williamson has been the highest-profile education secretary for England since Michael Gove - but probably not for the right reasons.

If the pandemic had a political fall guy, it was always likely to be Williamson - often the lightning rod for irritation and exasperation from families facing disruption and seeing U-turns on schools and exams.

He has now tweeted his departure - but it is still not clear if he will be offered another post.

Read more from Sean here.

Former Tory Justice Secretary David Gauke says it was "widely predicted" that Gavin Williamson would be sacked, and it "would have been a shock if he had stayed in place".

Gauke tells BBC News the now-former minister has some "significant political skills", especially as chief whip - convincing MPs to toe the party line.

But he says Williamson found education a "challenge" and he didn't have "the confidence of parents or teachers".